Why Port Vale's miracle FA Cup run is actually a 'pain in the bum'

Martin Macdonald

• 9 Mar 2026 09:30 CDT
• 4 min read

News

On Sunday, Port Vale reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1957 but with those final whistle celebrations also came a bit of trepidation.

A solitary goal from Ben Waine was enough for them to progress 1-0 as Premier League side Sunderland were knocked out.

The trepidation comes because Port Vale currently find themselves in a relegation dogfight in League One. After 32 matches this season, they have won just six in the league and are rock bottom of the table on 27 points, nine from safety.

While a lucrative FA Cup run could be seen as a welcome distraction from relegation fears, it has given manager Jon Brady a headache.

"It's a bit of a pain in the bum, to be honest!" Brady said. "It is really because what it's doing for us is adding to our fixture list and as you saw we lost one of our best centre-halves [Cam Humphreys] and we haven't got the size of the squad to cope with the amount of games at the moment.

"It's a privilege, but it's tough as well."

Port Vale are undoubtedly the biggest underdogs left in the FA Cup and could face a fixture against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City or Liverpool in the next round.

Remarkably, Waine has scored the winning goal in each of Port Vale's last three FA Cup games against Fleetwood, Bristol City and then Sunderland.

As a boyhood Newcastle fan growing up in New Zealand, that last one was something special.

"I always watched the Newcastle games against Sunderland and to be involved in this game and to score the winner is pretty special," he said. "Not just for me, but the whole family...this is the dream, so you've got to enjoy living it."

Waine even copied Newcastle legend Alan Shearer's famous celebration, running away with his arm aloft and the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer retweeted a picture of it.

🙋🏼‍♂️ https://t.co/7WZQo0xwRd

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) March 8, 2026

As for Sunderland, they have gained plenty of admirers this season for how they have adapted to the Premier League since being promoted. Safety looks to be guaranteed for the Black Cats now as they recently hit the fabled 40-point mark in the league with nine games remaining.

But, their poor showing against Port Vale left a lot to be desired.

"I was really disappointed," manager Regis Le Bris said. "We went strong with the ambition to win, with the knowledge as well, that it was a tough challenge because of the challenge here, with the crowd, the team fully involved, full credit them.

"In this competition, it's more about mindset, fighting spirit, rather than the tactical or technical qualities, and probably we were not consistent enough. I think some of the players were at their level, but especially to create situations today, we were not good enough.

"I don't think we were complacent. It's not my feeling. It's more about the ability to reset."

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